Story and Picture by Cecelia
[Cecelia lives in Gambell on St. Lawrence Island in the middle of the Bering Sea, where she is the only primary care medical provider for 700 Yupik Eskimos]
Onset of Winter in Gambell
Today was beautiful, with the few dark bluish gray clouds backlit by the sun. The bits of snow sparkled. I went down to the beach to just watch the waves, listen to the surf, smell the sea air, feel the bite of the breeze from the water, and enjoy the sunset. Mostly just "connect." We don't yet have sea ice to buffer the force of the waves, so the huge waves of late fall come crashing in, bringing a variety of sea vegetables (known locally as "seafood"). This harvest lasts only a couple of months--and I don't know why. I am going to cook some up tomorrow.
We're starting into our winter weather pattern, which is mostly one front after another bringing high winds and blowing snow. During the breaks between storms, we buckle down to get outside tasks done, such as running trash to the dump, or--as I did today, getting my stove oil tank mostly filled. As in many villages, all ATVs are "hondas" regardless of make; today, I got some honda gas, and checked the slow leak in my left rear tire.
One winter-time chore is to lay out my stuff at bedtime for rapid dressing for a possible emergency call in the night. Silk long johns neatly placed inside pants, neatly placed inside snowpants; silk turtleneck inside T-shirt and sweater; socks; parka; boots; balaclava/face mask (trying out in place of cap, neck-warmer, and muffler); goggles; down gloves; headlamp; keys.
In this picture you can see early ice that had formed and was broken up, also some "seafood". Ice formation is an ongoing, dynamic process.
Warm your cold hands with a nice mug of hot cocoa or tea from this teapot and warm your heart with homemade moose and polar bear cookies. As you can see in this picture, we tried out the recipe on the gingerbread moose towel - the cookies were grrrrrrrreat!
Special!
Buy the moose cookie cutter towel set and get the polar bear cookie cutter set at half off!
A $17.95 value
for just $13.42
Plan to serve wild Alaskan seafood to make your holidays extra-special!
Call toll-free 1-888-490-1898 to order.
You can order the following in 1-pound servings adding up to any combination of 5 pound multiples:
King Salmon ($18.99/lb), Sockeye Salmon ($12.99/lb), Silver Salmon ($9.99/lb), Applewood Smoked Salmon ($14.99/lb) and Halibut ($17.99/lb)Seafood is sent Monday - Thursday via FedEx overnight to arrive the following day (Friday orders are shipped on Monday). For Thanksgiving, order by mid-day on Monday, November 23rd for shipment on Tuesday with seafood delivered Wednesday, November 25th. For Christmas, order by mid-day on Tuesday, December 22nd for shipment Wednesday with seafood delivered Thursday, Christmas Eve (24th).
For a limited time only, we'll also be taking orders for Alaskan King Crab ($18.99/lb). Order by Friday, November 20th for delivery through Christmas Eve.
Shipping Prices for Fed-Ex Priority Overnight:
5 lbs - $43.00
10 lbs - $55.00
15 lbs - $64.00
20 lbs - $71.00
(Ask for shipping rates up to 50 lbs)
Fish is shipped directly from the seafood company.
